Breasts

Breast cancer

See research on breast cancer risk

Gynecomastia

Note: A warning of “breast tenderness and enlargement” appears in Propecia Patient Information.

Retrospective studies

Fang Q, Chen P, Du N, Nandakumar KS. Analysis of data from breast diseases treated with 5-alpha reductase inhibitors for benign prostatic hyperplasia. Clin Breast Cancer. 2019. doi:10.1016/j.clbc.2019.04.006 • PubMed

Hagberg KW, Divan HA, Fang SC, Nickel JC, Jick SS. Risk of gynecomastia and breast cancer associated with the use of 5-alpha reductase inhibitors for benign prostatic hyperplasia. Clin Epidemiol. 2017. doi:10.2147/CLEP.S124674PubMed

Lee SG, Park PJ, Lee SR, et al. Influence of postoperative finasteride therapy on recurrence of gynecomastia after mastectomy in men taking finasteride for alopecia. Am J Mens Health. 2019. doi:10.1177/1557988319871423PubMed

Reviews

Berthold D, Lhermitte B, Uffer M, Doerfler A. Finasteride-related Leydig cell tumour: report of a case and literature review. Andrologia. 2012. doi:10.1111/j.1439-0272.2011.01214.xPubMed [Patient developed gynecomastia]

Ramot Y, Czarnowicki T, Zlotogorski A. Finasteride induced gynecomastia: case report and review of the literature. Int J Trichology. 2009. doi:10.4103/0974-7753.51930PubMed

Letter (from FDA analysts)

Green L, Wysowski DK, Fourcroy JL. Gynecomastia and breast cancer during finasteride therapy. N Engl J Med. 1996. doi:10.1056/NEJM199609123351116 • PubMed

Case reports

Berthold D, Lhermitte B, Uffer M, Doerfler A. Finasteride-related Leydig cell tumour: report of a case and literature review. Andrologia. 2012. doi:10.1111/j.1439-0272.2011.01214.xPubMed [Patient developed gynecomastia]

Carlin BI, Seftel AD, Resnick MI, Findlay J. Finasteride induced gynecomastia. J Urol. 1997. doi:10.1016/S0022-5347(01)64536-1PubMed

Fernández Olarte D, Morán García A, Iglesias Bonilla P, Ortega Calvo M. Ginecomastia por dutasterida [Dutasteride-induced gynecomastia]. Med Clin (Barc). 2007. Spanish. doi:10.1016/s0025-7753(07)72563-0 • PubMed

Ferrando J, Grimalt R, Alsina M, Bulla F, Manasievska E. Unilateral gynecomastia induced by treatment with 1 mg of oral finasteride. Arch Dermatol. 2002. doi:10.1001/archderm.138.4.543 • PubMed

Lee SC, Ellis RJ. Male breast cancer during finasteride therapy. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2004. doi:10.1093/jnci/djh062PubMed

Mansouri P, Farshi S, Safar F. Finasteride-induced gynecomastia. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2009. doi:10.4103/0378-6323.51273PubMed

Miller JA, Pramanik B, Gilhooly P. Waxing and waning gynecomastia: an indication of noncompliant use of prescribed medication. South Med J. 1999. PubMed

Ramot Y, Czarnowicki T, Zlotogorski A. Finasteride induced gynecomastia: case report and review of the literature. Int J Trichology. 2009. doi:10.4103/0974-7753.51930PubMed

Schmutz JL, Barbaud A, Trechot P. Gynécomastie et finastéride (Propecia): 4 nouveaux cas [Gynecomastia and finasteride (Propecia): 4 new cases]. Ann Dermatol Venereol. 2004. French. doi:10.1016/s0151-9638(04)93684-8PubMed

Volpi R, Maccarini PA, Boni S, Chiodera P, Coiro V. Case report: finasteride-induced gynecomastia in a 62-year-old man. Am J Med Sci. 1995. doi: 10.1097/00000441-199506000-00005PubMed

Wade MS, Sinclair RD. Reversible painful gynaecomastia induced by low dose finasteride (1 mg/day). Australas J Dermatol. 2000. doi:10.1046/j.1440-0960.2000.00392.xPubMed

Zaballos P, Rodero J, Vives JM, Magarolas A, Andreu M. Ginecomastia unilateral secundaria al tratamiento con finasterida [Unilateral gynecomastia secondary to treatment with finasteride]. Actas Dermo-Sifiliograficas. 2004 Apr;95(3):199-200. Spanish. Journal site

Zimmerman RL, Fogt F, Cronin D, Lynch R. Cytologic atypia in a 53-year-old man with finasteride-induced gynecomastia. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2000. doi:10.5858/2000-124-0625-CAIAYOPubMed